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With roughly 98 percent of modern wristwatches still relying on round cases, rectangular watches continue to occupy a rare and deliberate position in watch design. Their origins trace back to the early twentieth century, when wristwatches were shaped as much by architecture and industrial design as by horology itself.
During the height of the Art Deco era (1920s-1930s), rectangular cases symbolized progress, elegance, and modern life. While round watches later became dominant through manufacturing efficiency, rectangular watches endured as expressions of taste rather than default.
Today, they remain one of the clearest ways to step outside convention while staying rooted in watchmaking history. These ten models illustrate how rectangular watches continue to evolve in 2026, from accessible classics to enduring icons.
Söner Amorous Casablanca
Price: $620, Case Size: 28mm, Case Height: 10mm, Lug Width: 20mm, Lug to Lug: 40mm, Case: Extra hardened, Crystal: Sapphire, Water Resistance: 50 meters, Movement: Automatic Sellita SW100, Warranty: 10-years
Söner’s Amorous Casablanca draws its inspiration from the spirit of Casablanca itself, a city defined by Art Deco architecture, multicultural energy, and a timeless cinematic legacy. Shaped by the elegant lines of early 20th-century design, the Casablanca reflects an era when form was deliberate, proportions were restrained, and style was never accidental.
The rectangular case measures 28 × 40 mm with a slim 10 mm profile, offering a balanced presence on the wrist that feels refined rather than imposing. Finished in hardened (800HV) brushed gold plating, the case combines classic character with modern durability. A sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating protects the dial, ensuring clarity in both formal settings and everyday wear.
The dial is clean and composed, featuring gold-plated steel applied indices and matching hands that catch the light subtly. A discreet date window completes the display, offering hours, minutes, seconds, and date without visual excess. The overall aesthetic is calm, architectural, and unmistakably intentional.
Powering the Amorous Casablanca is the Swiss-made Sellita SW100A automatic movement, delivering a 42-hour power reserve and mechanical accuracy rated at −20 to +40 seconds per day. The movement is housed beneath an arched, screw-down, sealed case back, reinforcing the watch’s sense of solidity and long-term reliability.
With 5 ATM water resistance, suitable for everyday exposure and snorkelling, the Casablanca is designed to be worn, not preserved. The integrated bracelet, offered in medium and large sizes with a 20 mm width, flows seamlessly from case to wrist, completing a watch that feels cohesive, deliberate, and quietly distinctive.
Hamilton American Classic Boulton Mechanical
Price: ~$945, Case size: 34.5mm x 38mm, Thickness: 11.2mm, Lug Width: 22mm, Crystal: Sapphire, Water Resistance: 50 meters, Movement: Manually wound Caliber H-50 (ETA 2801-2 base)
Hamilton introduced the original Boulton during the 1940s, a period when rectangular watches were not an alternative but the standard for refined wristwear. Hamilton, founded in the United States in 1892 before later establishing itself in Switzerland, became known for blending American design sensibility with Swiss precision.
The modern Boulton carries that lineage forward through its softly rounded rectangular case, which subtly borders on a tonneau profile. Its dial remains unmistakably period inspired, with angled Roman numerals radiating outward and a classic railroad minute track anchoring the design. Blued leaf shaped hands and a domed crystal reinforce the vintage character, while the manually wound movement preserves the tactile ritual that defined watch ownership in the mid twentieth century.
Raymond Weil Toccata Gent
Price: ~$975, Case size: 37.25mm x 29.6mm, Thickness: 6.4mm, Lug Width: 19mm, Crystal: Sapphire, Water Resistance: 50 meters, Movement: Swiss quartz
Founded in Geneva in 1976, Raymond Weil emerged during the quartz crisis with a clear focus on classical aesthetics and musical inspiration. The Toccata collection reflects that philosophy, drawing its name from a form of classical musical composition.
The rectangular Toccata Gent channels the slim, formal watches popular in the post war decades, when elegance was expressed through restraint rather than complexity. Its clean white dial features radiating Roman numerals arranged around an angular minute track, creating a sense of rhythm and balance. Dauphine hands glide across the surface with precision, while a discreet date window maintains everyday usability. The slim rectangular case and curved lugs give the watch a refined wrist presence that aligns with Raymond Weil’s long standing focus on accessible Swiss elegance.
Frederique Constant Classics Carrée Automatic
Price: ~$995, Case size: 30.4mm x 33.3mm, Thickness: 9.71mm, Lug Width: 22mm, Crystal: Sapphire, Water Resistance: 30 meters, Movement: Automatic Caliber FC-303 (Sellita SW200 base)
Frederique Constant has built its identity around classical Swiss watchmaking since its founding in 1988, with a strong emphasis on traditional design codes. The Classics Carrée was introduced as a rectangular counterpart to the brand’s round dominated collections, drawing inspiration from early twentieth century dress watches. In its current form, the Carrée favors a more architectural and disciplined layout.
Applied hour markers frame the dial, while a central rectangular section features a subtle guilloché pattern bordered by a railroad minute track. Faceted Dauphine hands add depth without excess, reinforcing the watch’s classical tone. The overall design reflects Frederique Constant’s goal of offering traditional mechanical watchmaking in historically grounded forms.
Longines Dolcevita Automatic
Price: ~$1,775, Case size: 27.7mm x 43.8mm, Thickness: 10.1mm, Lug Width: 19mm, Crystal: Sapphire, Water Resistance: 30 meters, Movement: Automatic Longines Caliber 592
With a heritage dating back to 1832, Longines has long been associated with elegance, sport, and technical refinement. The DolceVita collection takes inspiration from archival rectangular Longines watches produced during the Art Deco period, when the brand embraced elongated cases and layered dial designs. While originally introduced with a feminine focus, larger automatic versions echo the unisex proportions common in early rectangular wristwatches.
The softly curved case frames a sector style dial, combining brushed surfaces, Arabic numerals, and a precise railroad minute track. Blued hands provide contrast and legibility, while a small date window integrates seamlessly into the design. The result is a watch that balances historical inspiration with everyday refinement.
Oris Rectangular
Price: ~$2,050, Case Size: 25.5mm x 38mm, Lug Width: 19mm, Crystal: Sapphire, Water Resistance: 30 meters, Movement: Automatic Oris Caliber 561 (ETA 2671 base)
Oris has remained independent since its founding in 1904 and is best known for its functional tool watches. The Rectangular model represents a more design focused side of the brand, introduced as a modern interpretation rather than a strict historical reproduction. Its compact, slightly curved case allows it to sit comfortably on the wrist, recalling early civilian wristwatches while remaining contemporary in feel.
The dial combines bold sword hands with a traditional railroad minute track, while Arabic numerals at key positions reference vintage typography. A discreet date window completes the layout. This watch demonstrates how rectangular design can be adapted for modern tastes without abandoning its historical roots.
Baume & Mercier Hampton Automatic
Price: $2,700, Case size: 43mm x 27.5mm, Thickness: 9.95mm, Crystal: Sapphire, Water Resistance: 50 meters, Movement: Automatic ETA 2671
Founded in 1830, Baume & Mercier has long positioned itself between classic elegance and everyday wearability. The Hampton collection draws direct inspiration from rectangular Baume and Mercier watches produced during the 1940s, when Art Deco geometry defined formal wristwear.
The modern Hampton Automatic features a multifaceted rectangular case that reflects those historical proportions while adding contemporary refinement. Sword style hands and applied indexes create clarity, while the dial layout remains restrained and balanced. Historically, watches of this style were worn as versatile dress pieces, and the Hampton continues that tradition with a design that feels timeless rather than nostalgic.
Hermès Cape Cod
Price: $3,375, Case size: 41mm x 33mm, Thickness: 6.4mm, Lug Width: 19mm, Crystal: Sapphire, Water Resistance: 30 meters, Movement: Automatic Hermes H1912
Hermès introduced the Cape Cod in 1991, bringing a distinctly design driven approach to rectangular watchmaking. Inspired by the shape of an anchor chain, the case features a curved rectangular form framed by signature triple lugs. While Hermès began as a leather goods house in the nineteenth century, the Cape Cod reflects how the brand translated its equestrian and nautical heritage into horology. The opaline dial features a textured central section framed by a minute track, while applied Arabic numerals appear in a typeface exclusive to Hermès. Paired with the brand’s renowned leather straps, the Cape Cod blends Swiss watchmaking with Parisian design sensibility.
Cartier Tank Louis Cartier
Price: ~$12,400, Case Size: 25.5mm x 33.7mm, Case Thickness: 6.6mm, Lug Width: 20mm, Crystal: Sapphire, Water Resistance: 30 meters, Movement: Manually wound Cartier Caliber 8971 MC
Cartier introduced the Tank in 1917, forever redefining wristwatch design. Created by Louis Cartier and inspired by the geometry of military tanks, the watch broke away from round cases and became an icon of modern elegance. The Tank Louis Cartier remains the purest expression of that original vision, preserving the proportions and minimalist philosophy of the earliest models.
Recent lacquered dial versions simplify the design even further by removing traditional Roman numerals, allowing color and form to dominate. Sword shaped hands and the blue cabochon crown remain signature elements, reinforcing continuity across more than a century of production.
Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso
Price: ~$8,750, Case Size: 45.6mm x 27.4mm, Lug Width: 20mm, Crystal: Sapphire, Water Resistance: 30 meters, Movement: Jaeger-LeCoultre Manually Wound Caliber 822
Jaeger-LeCoultre created the Reverso in 1931 as a practical solution for polo players who needed to protect their watch crystals during matches. Its reversible rectangular case quickly became an Art Deco icon, defined by clean lines, stepped gadroons, and perfect symmetry.
The Reverso Tribute returns to the aesthetic codes of the earliest models, emphasizing proportion, restraint, and clarity. The dial features applied hour markers, Dauphine hands, and a small seconds display that reinforces balance. Nearly a century after its introduction, the Reverso remains one of the most distinctive and historically significant rectangular watches ever made.
